Chasidut על גיטין 127:17
Kedushat Levi
Genesis (24,12) We need to examine why Betuel and family at first agreed to Rivkah’s becoming Yitzchok’s bride, (verse 50) but apparently changed their minds subsequently. (Verse 55). We must remember that both Lavan and Betuel, even when appearing to agree, had evil intentions. (see Rashi, according to whom they planned to assassinate Eliezer) Their principal motivation was to prevent Yitzchok from having children that would grow to maturity and survive. (Gittin 64) The Talmud there discusses the subject of a betrothal by means of an emissary, in the absence of a face to face meeting between bride and groom. According to the halachah, as long as the emissary is still on the way, i.e. has not returned from his mission, the sender (Yitzchok) is not allowed to marry any other woman. The reason for this is that he might, unwittingly marry someone forbidden to him for reasons of incest. (In the event that his emissary had already carried out his mission) For this reason, Rivkah’s family first expressed their willingness, so that Yitzchok was “married,” and then by killing him hoped to prevent him from returning to his sender and announcing that he had completed his mission.
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